Grants program open

Media release issued Wednesday 16 November 2011

Applications are open for Barwon Water's 2011/12 Water Saving Grants Program.

Businesses, schools and community groups are encouraged to apply for a grant to help implement water conservation projects.

Funding is available for projects that demonstrate water savings through harvesting (rainwater or stormwater), recycling or efficiency upgrades.

This year's program has been broken into three categories:

major projects - grants up to $50,000

minor/small business projects - grants up to $5,000

community and not-for-profit projects - grants up to $5,000.

The program began in 2009/10, with six business and industrial customers sharing in $340,000. The projects saved a combined 350 million litres.

In 2010/11, the program was extended to include small to medium businesses and not-for-profit customers.

Ten organisations were successful in securing funding for projects that will save an estimated 100 million litres a year.

One of the successful recipients, Barwon Coast Committee of Management, received a grant to install water-efficient urinals and a rainwater tank at the 13th Beach car park toilet block and three under-floor tanks for cabins at the Barwon Heads Caravan Park.

Committee of Management General Manager Bob Jordan said the tanks were expected to save about 170 kilolitres of drinking water a year.

"As a natural resource manager, we understand the need to reduce our demand on the reticulated water supply. Accordingly, we have undertaken a range of water conservation measures, including the installation of flow reduction valves, timers and water tanks in shower blocks along the coast," Mr Jordan said.

"The Barwon Water grant assisted in undertaking further steps to reduce our water consumption. We now have more than 20 locations where water saving features have been installed and are always on the lookout for ways to save even more."